Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) — Seven Chinese government agencies, including the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Supreme People’s Court, have issued guidelines to improve legal services and protect the elderly.
As China’s population ages, with more than 310 million people aged 60 and above, the move aims to address controversies surrounding the elderly and create a favourable social environment for the group.
One of the key elements of the document is the improvement of infrastructure for unimpeded access of elderly people to judicial bodies and the improvement of the quality of services provided by them. In addition, the document provides for the provision of specialized services, such as preliminary court proceedings and the provision of these services at home.
The recommendations also call for tougher penalties for crimes targeting older people, including fraud, theft and extortion, as well as attacks on their property rights under the guise of providing care services. They also focus on early risk prevention in areas such as inheritance disputes, elderly care, financial management and health-related products.
To better protect vulnerable groups, the document proposes to remove income restrictions for older people seeking legal aid in cases of abuse, neglect or domestic violence.
It also expands the reach of legal aid to include older people living alone, those with disabilities and those suffering from dementia. -0-